Sponsor a CIS Intern

The High School Intern program at the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science offers a limited number of highly qualified juniors the opportunity to work side-by-side with world class scientists on a variety of imaging-related research projects. These paid internships give students the chance to get valuable hands-on experience in a real laboratory setting as contributing members of a research team. This coveted opportunity has jump started successful academic and professional careers for 144 participants over thirteen years.

To celebrate the accomplishments of past interns, a new Story category has been created on the CIS website. As interviews with intern alumni are conducted, their responses are posted to the Stories about Our Summer Interns page. The series was unveiled with six intern alumni profiles, and many more to come—so please check back often to see what great things our interns have gone on to achieve.

The benefits of the CIS intern program are four-fold: to students; to the community; to CIS and RIT; and to STEM (science, technology, education, and math) education in the United States as a whole. Participants benefit from research experience, exposure to a college environment, experientially exploring their academic interests, and learning the responsibilities of a full time job. The intern program is a community builder, as schools and students from across the area participate, and local companies and research centers are showcased through field trips. The program is also CIS’s most successful recruitment initiative: ~50% of participants have applied to RIT for STEM-related disciplines, with 15% applying to Imaging Science and 12% ultimately enrolling as students in the Imaging Science program*. Lastly, our internships encourage the further pursuit of STEM disciplines by up-and-coming young talent.

Now there is an opportunity for everyone to get involved! CIS is looking for partners to help foster the continuance and growth of the internship program.

A very simple online form has been developed that makes sponsorship incredibly easy, and ensures that your generosity is placed exactly where you direct it. We hope that you will consider supporting the future of our intern program through a personal donation or company sponsorship. Every little bit helps—even a donation of $25 can make a difference in providing these special opportunities. For more information, please visit our online giving form. Offline donations can be arranged by e-mailing us. All sponsors will receive a small appreciation gift and will be listed on our interns website, which to date has over 12,000 views. We sincerely thank all sponsors past, present, and future for your generous support of our high school intern program.

* Data does not include 2012’s fourteen interns, as their college application and acceptance process has not yet completed.